Experts decry corruption, instability in West Africa, plots way out through language, literature

Success Damian: Language and linguistics experts have agreed that corruption and instability are twin evils winding backward the clock of socio-politico-economic development of West African Sub Region. This disclosure was made at the 2021 Conference of the West African Languages Congress (WALC) and the Linguistic Association of Nigeria (LAN) which took place at the Lagos State University, Ojo, Lagos State, Nigeria on Monday, August 16, 2021. Speaking at the event, the Dean, Faculty of Arts, LASU, Prof. Tayo Ajayi referring to the theme of the event ‘Languages, Literatures and the challenges of instability and corruption in West Africa’ said corruption represents a threat ‘…to the stability and security of societies, undermining the institutions of democracy, ethical values and justice and jeopardizing sustainable development and rule of law’. He said politically, corruption undermines democracy and good governance and at the legislative level it reduces accountability and distorts representation in policymaking. Corruption in the judiciary, he said, compromises the rule of law and in the public service; it results in unequal distribution of resources. Ajayi continued “Corruption or perception of it destroys the legitimacy of government in the eyes of the public and this has contributed to instability. This is why corruption and embezzlement have always have been cited as reasons for military takeovers.” In his Presidential address, Professor Harrison Adeniyi, President, the Linguistics Association of Nigeria, maintained that the theme of the conference could not have come at a better time considering the myriads of challenges in the history of the sub-region. “The sub region has become a laughing stock in the comity of nations when it is very difficult for it to manage both its resources and differences reasonably well.” Adeniyi said despite the calamities that leaders have subjected the citizens to; the insatiable quest to remain in power without effective and efficient leadership still persisted. He continued “Not only that; the commonwealth of these nations are only in the hands of a few of the citizens. We have cases where some individuals are now richer that the state, while facilities and social amenities have depreciated. Leaders make deliberate efforts to cause disaffection among different communities in their countries. Thus members of each group have tended to identify themselves more with their ethnic group rather than with their country and loyalty to the ethnic group is often more important than loyalty to the state.” He said political parties formed in these countries have compounded their woes and misfortune, adding that whatever party that is in power tends to allocate huge resources to their strongholds and appoint people from their regions to strategic position to the detriment and annoyance of people from other regions, which undermines the unity and stability of these states and is sometimes the primary cause of internal conflicts. He maintained that it was against the above background that the linguistic and language experts both within and outside West African countries felt language has very crucial role to play in the stability and economic development of these nations thereby minimizing corruption. “Since language is central to all human activities, I therefore urge my colleagues to bring up solutions through their presentations on the theme and various subthemes that we have for this year’s conference to resolving the various crises of confidence and reducing the corruption levels that we have in West Africa.” Earlier, the Chief Host and Acting Vice Chancellor, LASU, Professor Oyedamola Oke, in his welcome address, stated that the 2021 WALC/LAN Conference provided a very unique opportunity for delegates who have come from across West Africa, to not only network, but also to proffer solutions to the twin problems of instability and corruption, with which the west African sub region has had to grapple with in the recent times. Oke asserted that the colonial language legacy inherited by West African countries have been largely responsible for a worldview that make the sub region more aware of the cultures, lifestyles, customs and beliefs of other people, particularly today among the youth population. “In a way, we are in the throes of an identity problem, and reminiscent of the Tower of Babel scenario, language, expected to bring us closer together, has fueled the growing dissonance between social groups, thus leaving behind rivalry and hate which are often exploited by certain interests to tear society apart. “Consequently any conversation on language and literature, therefore, must take cognizance of the fact that language and literature are social practices which provide insights into the socio-historical, political and economic conditions that produce them. In order words, in language is encoded the strategies that members of any society use to regulate and reproduce that society, to order and control it and transmit it to the next generation. Whatever culture, history, or legacy this generation wishes to bequeath to the next generation resides in our language.” He said the task before the august conference therefore must be seeking ways to change the language of instability and corruption in order to prevent the continued reproduction and perpetuation of its associated social practices. He continued, “As you actively interrogate the theme of this conference, it is expected that you will come up with a framework for a language policy that will not only guarantee free movement and peaceful coexistence in the West African sub region, but will also encourage the socio-economic, political and religious development of member countries.” Oke implored those visiting Lagos for the first time to take time to look around and enjoy the beauty of the aquatic city and the hospitality of the people of Lagos. Also present at the event was Prof Firmin Ahoua, President, WALC, among other eminent academic gurus in Language and Linguistic sphere, while the Keynote Speaker was Prof. Adams Bodomo, from University of Vienna, Austria.